Key retainer



Aug. 11, 1942 c A. IMHOFF KEY RETAINER Filed July 5, 1941 Y #[rzwerzfor Carl x5 [mkv/f.

Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE KEY RETAINER Carl A. Imhoff, West Los Angeles, Calif. Application July 5, 1941, Serial No. 401,125

3 Claims.

My invention has to do with improvements in key retainers.

One of its objects is the provision of a key retainer which embodiesnovel and highly convenient means for mounting and carrying the keys.

Another object is the provision of a key retainer which is extremely simple and economical of manufacture, which is inconspicuous to carry, which maintains the keys in concealed but convenient position for immediate use, and which is adjustable to fit onto different sized fingers.

Other objects will become apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred adaptation of my invention, for which purpose I refer to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing the device in key retaining, or closed, position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the device in open position for applying or removing a key; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective showing my device in position on the finger.

Ln general, I carry my invention into practice by forming a strip of resilient metal into a loosely wound spiral finger-receiving loop, one end of the strip being hooked to provide a key retaining portion out of the plane of the interior surface of the loop and the other end of which strip provides means for securing the keys against accidental escape from the key-retaining hook.

Referring now to the drawing, I show a preferred adaptation wherein a bar of resilient metal is bent to provide a U-shaped hooked portion 5 adapted to receive a key K, and a ring portion generally designated by the numeral 6. In the formation of my device the bar is preferably bent to form the hooked portion 5, thence the bar is bent, at 5a at substantially right angle, and continues in a loose spiral to form the ring 6, with the free overlapping end So returning inwardly to bear against the adjacent ring portion to provide a fulcrum for the purpose to be hereinafter described. The spiral has sufficient pitch that the lower portion b of the ring is spaced outwardly from ring portion 5a far enough to closely overhang the free end 52) of the hook. The axis of the hooked portion 5 is at right angles to the axis of the ring 6 and the overhanging ring portion 6b prevents escape of the key from the hook until it is flexed inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, to a position where it does not overhang the hook portion 5?). The fulcrum 6a facilitates this movement of ring portion 6b into the position of Fig. 2.

While my device serves as an efiicient key retainer for all purposes, it is particularly useful when the user wants to carry keys in position for ready use or wishes for any reason temporarily to carry them in the hand. Under such circumstances, the user merely slips the ring portion 6 on the finger F, as shown in Fig. 3,

with the result that the keys are comfortably positioned in the palm of the hand, held against loss or misplacement and are ready for instant use, the key retainer presenting the appearance of being a finger ring. Since the key hook 5 is out of the plane of the inner surface of the ring, the ends of the keys do not bear against the finger or otherwise cause discomfort when the ring portion is worn on the finger. The hook 5 may be made large enough to hold any desired number of keys.

My invention is not confined to the specific structural details hereinabove recited for purposes of explanation. On the contrary, it may take other specific forms within its broader scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A key retainer including a ring having laterally spaced end portions, one of said end portions terminating in a key receiving hook whose axis is at an angle to the axis of the ring and the other of said end portions being disposed closely adjacent the free end of the hook whereby normally to act as a stop to prevent escape of the key from the hook and being resiliently movable away from said free end to permit a key to be applied to or removed from the hook.

2. A key retainer consisting of a strip of resilient material wound into a loose spiral to provide a finger receiving ring, one end of said strip being formed into a key receiving hook whose axis is at right angles to the axis of the ring and the other end portion of the strip closely overhanging the free end of the hook.

3. A key retainer consisting of a strip of re-' silient material wound into a loose spiral to pro vide a finger receiving ring, one end of said strip being formed into a key receiving hook whose axis is at right angles to the axis of the ring and the other end portion of the strip closely overhanging the free end of the hook and having a terminal portion bearing against the ring at a point circumferentially spaced from the hook whereby to act as a fulcrum to facilitate flexing said overhanging portion away from the free end of the hook.

CARL A. IMHOFF. 

